# 21st Century Workforce Partnerships Act Summary
This bill establishes two grant programs to strengthen connections between education and employment by funding partnerships between schools, colleges, and businesses. The first program awards three-year grants (renewable for two additional years) to local school districts and consortia to develop career pathway programs in high schools and career exploration in middle grades, with priority given to rural areas, Native American-serving schools, and programs serving low-income students. Schools must partner with businesses or industry groups that contribute matching funds equal to or exceeding the grant amount, and the bill requires the Department of Education to provide technical assistance to help applicants prepare and manage grants. The second program provides similar three-year grants to community colleges, tribal colleges, and certain public universities to develop job training and educational programs leading to recognized credentials in partnership with employers, with priority for programs serving unemployed workers, veterans, and first-generation college students. Both programs emphasize creating pathways to good-paying jobs and require grantees to report on student outcomes and employment success. The bill authorizes necessary funding for both programs, with no more than five percent of College to Career grant funds available for federal administration.
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